The Cabra Island Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse built on Cabra Island, the north-westernmost of the Lubang group of islands in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. International vessels entering the Philippines from South China Sea were welcomed by the Cabra Light and directed either towards Manila Bay or the center of the archipelago through Verde Island Passage, one of busiest sea routes of the Philippines.

History The lighthouse of Cabra was the first completed during Spain's revitalized program of lighthouse construction in the Philippines. Construction was started on May 3, 1885, and it was first lit on March 1, 1889.Noche, Manuel M., "Lonely Sentinels of the Sea, The Spanish Lighthouses in the Philippines", p.55. U.S.T. Publishing House, 2005. It was also the first of the five first-order lighthouses built by the Spaniards in the latter part of their colonization of the archipelago.

Description The original light, visible for , was shown from a high square tower on the west angle of the station. It is visible around the entire horizon except where obscured by Lubang and Ambil Islands.

Current condition The original lighthouse was replaced by the Philippine Coast Guard with a new solar-powered tower located next to the previous tower under its Maritime Safety Improvement Project.de Lara, MJ (2008-01-10). "Old vs new : Faro de Punta de Isla Cabra standing beside its modern counterpart". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01. After the replacement, the lighthouse was abandoned and left open for thieves and vandals. The expensive first-order lens were vandalized with the large front Fresnel lenses all gone.Neikirk (2009-02-19). "Old lighthouse, Cabra Island, Philippines". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01. The original bronze marker was stolen by thieves and has been replaced with a white board showing the original inscriptions."Isla de Cabra Lighthouse (Original marker)". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01. The roof of the keeper's house and utility rooms have collapsed."Cabra Island Lighthouse"."Derelict, Abandoned. But still breathtaking". Flickr. Retrieved on 2011-11-01. The lighthouse is closed to visitors due to its dilapidated state.

See also

List of lighthouses in the Philippines

References

External links Maritime Safety Services Command Cabra Island Light on Lighthouse Depot A Cabra Island Lighthouse page from Lubang Island Website